Vanessa Bryant SHADES Kobe Bryant’s Dad’s Death | Why Kobe’s Parent Never Accepted Her
Vanessa Bryant Accused of Shading Kobe Bryant’s Dad’s Death | Why Kobe’s Parents Never Accepted Her
It’s a profoundly sad and difficult time for the Bryant family. Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, father of late NBA icon Kobe Bryant and a basketball legend in his own right, has died at the age of 69. While most families would come together to mourn and pay their last respects, the Bryants once again found themselves at the center of controversy—this time, over alleged “shade” from Vanessa Bryant towards her late father-in-law.
A Tributed Marked By Tension
Joe Bryant passed away after suffering a massive stroke, just over four years after the tragic deaths of Kobe and Gianna Bryant in the Calabasas helicopter crash. Tributes to the elder Bryant poured in from around the world; former teams, fans, and even NBA franchises such as the Philadelphia 76ers remembered him not only as an accomplished athlete and coach, but as the father of one of the game’s all-time greats.
Yet, it wasn’t the basketball accolades or outpouring of love that made headlines. It was Vanessa Bryant’s Instagram post. “Sending our condolences upon hearing the news of my father-in-law’s passing. We hoped things would have been different. Although the times we spent together were few, he was always sweet and nice to be around. Kobe loved him very much.”
Her words, though civil, struck many fans as cold—almost a “nice way of saying RIP but we never got along,” as one fan commented. Others saw quiet open wounds in phrases like “we hoped things would have been different,” interpreting them as a subtle reminder of the rift that split the Bryant family for decades. Some fans criticized Vanessa for bringing up the fracture in her message, believing it was “not the time” to air old grievances. Others, however, said she was simply being real—“The world knows there was beef. If she wrote a long, heartfelt message she’d be called fake. If she said nothing, she’d get heat. So she went with honesty.”
Roots of a Rift
But where does this division truly come from? The answer, according to numerous sources and even Kobe’s own public remarks, lies in a complicated entanglement of family loyalty, money, and old-fashioned views on marriage.
The trouble began when Kobe met Vanessa, then a 17-year-old Latina high school senior, while he was just 21 and on his way to NBA stardom. It was love at first sight for Kobe, but not for his parents, Joe and Pamela. They disapproved—not just because of the couple’s youth or whirlwind romance, but largely because Vanessa was not African-American, and in their conservative eyes, lacked both a college education and the “right background.”
The Bryants viewed Vanessa as an outsider—someone unworthy of marrying into their family and, some have since accused, a gold-digger. These suspicions weren’t merely whispered in private; Vanessa’s own stepfather later labeled her a “money grabber” in the press, and reportedly Kobe’s parents dead-set opposed the relationship from the start.
A Marriage That Separated a Family
Kobe’s parents didn’t attend their son’s 2001 wedding. They didn’t attend his 2001 NBA Finals in Philadelphia, his own hometown, where he lifted the championship trophy in tears—alone in the locker room for that now-iconic, somber photo. Their absence was pointed, deliberate, and publicly heartbreaking.
Money became another wedge. According to a 2016 ESPN interview, Kobe had cut off his parents financially years after they attempted to auction his cherished memorabilia without his consent. “Our relationship is… Ish,” Kobe admitted. “I say to them, I’m going to buy you a very nice home. And the response is, that’s not good enough. Then you’re selling my stuff.” By then, Kobe had grown to respect his sisters for making their own way, but felt his parents never accepted the boundaries he put in place.
For all this, Vanessa was painted as the puppet master—someone accused of driving Kobe away from his parents and isolating him from his roots. Some alleged she exerted “control,” while others believed her blamed mainly because she simply would not yield to the older Bryants’ expectations or prejudices.
A Legacy of Hurt
Despite brief periods of reconciliation—such as after the birth of their first child—the relationship between Kobe, Vanessa, and his parents was never repaired for long, undone by fresh disagreements, financial strains, or perceived slights. Even in death, the wounds didn’t heal. After Joe’s recent passing, Vanessa’s carefully worded statement sparked new debate: Was she classless for mentioning old conflicts? Or honest for not pretending things were different?
At the end of the day, the public’s divided reaction speaks to the lasting pain on both sides. Some say Vanessa should let bygones be bygones; others insist she was justified, noting the pressure, racism, and lack of support she endured as a young bride and mother under the world’s microscope.
So, was Vanessa’s eulogy out of line or the best she could do? Was she justified, or should she have buried the rift for the sake of peace?
The only people who truly know are those who lived through it. What is certain is that both sides endured heartbreak—and that family wounds, no matter the fame or fortune, still cut the deepest.
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